Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

PHOTOS 1 & 2: Sony’s last attempt at a Bruno Walter Collection was incomplete (39 CDs vs. 77 CDs in the new box) PHOTO 3: the remastering credits for the new box are complicated He was born in 1876, and conducted his first concert in 1894. To Bruno Walter, the music of Bruckner (died 1896), Brahms (died 1897), Dvořák (died 1904) and Mahler (died 1911) was “Contemporary Music”. Walter conducted the posthumous premieres of Mahler’s ‘Das Lied von der Erde’ in 1911 and Ninth Symphony in 1912. Bruno Walter was one of a select number of conductors who were born and educated in the Nineteenth Century, but lived long enough to make stereo recordings (introduced c.1955). Others were Pierre Monteux, Sir Thomas Beecham, Otto Klemperer, Carl Schuricht and Leopold Stokowski (none of whom took conducting classes in college). Bruno Walter conducted his last concert at age 86, shortly before his death in 1962. The most famous description of Bruno Walter was by Arturo Toscanini: “When Walter comes to something beautiful, he melts.” This sounds snarky, but Toscanini was an admirer of Bruno Walter and invited him to conduct the NBC Symphony on several occasions (even the music of Mahler, a composer Toscanini detested). Walter’s earliest recordings were made in the 1920s for Polydor (DG) in Berlin, and in the 1930s for EMI in Vienna, London and Paris. He emigrated to America in 1939, where he signed an (almost) exclusive recording contract with Columbia Masterworks. In this Sony box are all the Columbia recordings made by Bruno Walter between 1941 and 1961 (age 65 to 85). This is the first time Sony has issued all of them in a single box. Sony’s last attempt at a Bruno Walter Collection was incomplete, favoring the stereo recordings over mono. NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC RECORDINGS: The 1940s were a tumultuous time for the Philharmonic, suffering from competition with the newly created NBC Symphony under Toscanini. After the departure of John Barbirolli in 1941, there was a decade of instability. During these years, guest conductor Bruno Walter made the lion’s share of recordings with the orchestra, and most record buyers assumed he was Music Director (that would be Artur Rodziński, followed by Dimitri Mitropoulos). The closest Walter came to an official title was “Musical Advisor” from 1947-1948. Columbia Records invented the 33rpm long-playing record, and was eager to show off the new medium with the complete Beethoven Symphonies on seven LP records (as opposed to fifty plus 78s). Bruno Walter/New York Philharmonic completed the project on March 24, 1952 (eight months ahead of Toscanini/NBC Symphony on RCA), but the situation was complicated the following year when Columbia deleted Walter’s Ninth and re-recorded the finale at the conductor’s request (both finales are included in the Sony box). Mono recordings, except four 1957-1959 stereo recordings that overlapped Leonard Bernstein’s tenure: Schubert Unfinished Symphony, Mahler Resurrection Symphony & ‘Das Lied von der Erde’, and the finale from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. WHAT WAS THE COLUMBIA SYMPHONY? For a time, the “Columbia Symphony” existed simultaneously in three cities: New York, Los Angeles and Cleveland, although it never gave a public concert. It was strictly a recording orchestra, put together by Columbia Masterworks. Intended to save money by bypassing existing contracts: The same session fees paid to musicians, but looser union rules and no royalties (the details are a bit sketchy). The first recording session with the Columbia Symphony took place on December 21, 1949: Bizet and Tchaikovsky conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham, with musicians from the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera. This was followed by sessions with Rodziński, Mitropoulos, Leonard Bernstein, George Szell, and composer Igor Stravinsky. Between 1953 and 1956, Bruno Walter recorded seven LPs worth of Mozart, Schubert and Johann Strauss with members of the New York Philharmonic masquerading as the Columbia Symphony. Bruno Walter lived in Southern California, and travelled to New York for concerts and recording sessions. He was able to keep this up through his eightieth birthday in 1956. But in 1957 Walter suffered a heart attack and was forced to limit his travel. A California orchestra was needed, but the Los Angeles Philharmonic was under contract to EMI. The solution was to create a second Columbia Symphony, composed of moonlighting Los Angeles Philharmonic musicians augmented by Hollywood studio musicians. All the mono Columbia Symphony recordings (1953-1956) were made in New York (exception: the George London Mozart aria recital is a California mono recording). All the stereo Columbia Symphony recordings (1958-1961) were made in Los Angeles. One hybrid: the 1959 stereo Beethoven Ninth. In January, the first three movements were recorded in California, with musicians from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, but the final movement was recorded four months later with the New York Philharmonic and Westminster Choir during one of Walter’s rare trips East. This is the only joint collaboration of the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonics. It is officially credited to the “Columbia Symphony”. SOUND: All the stereo recordings and approximately half the mono recordings were newly remastered for this box using 24 bit/192 kHz technology. I have decided to limit my remarks about sound quality compared to earlier editions: I recently turned 70 and don’t trust my hearing to make fine distinctions. I re-listened to some of the earlier stereo remasterings a month before this new box arrived and was quite satisfied with them. The new remasterings also sound very satisfying. Maybe a little better, but since I probably have ten years to go before I meet Bruno Walter in person, I am not going to spend that time endlessly comparing different remasterings of the same recording. LIST OF CONTENTS These are all of Bruno Walter’s post-1940 studio recordings (except the 1949-1952 EMI and Decca Mahler recordings with contralto Kathleen Ferrier and the Vienna Philharmonic). --- 38 mono CDs over a 15 year period (1941-1956), mostly with the New York Philharmonic --- 31 stereo CDs over a 4 year period (1957-1961), mostly with the Columbia Symphony + 8 rehearsal and interview CDs. BARBER: -- Symphony 1: New York Philharmonic - 1945 mono BEETHOVEN: -- Symphony 1: ------ 1947 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1958 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 2: ------ 1952 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1959 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 3: ------ 1941 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1949 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1958 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 4: ------ 1952 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1958 Columbia Symphony (+ rehearsal) - stereo -- Symphony 5: ------ 1941 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1950 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1958 Columbia Symphony (+ rehearsal) - stereo -- Symphony 6 ‘Pastoral’ ------ 1946 Philadelphia Orchestra - mono ------ 1958 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 7: ------ 1951 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1958 Columbia Symphony (+ rehearsal) - stereo -- Symphony 8 ------ 1942 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1958 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 9: ------ 1949 New York Philharmonic (Gonzalez, Nikolaidi, Jobin, Harrell with Westminster Choir) - mono ------ 1953 New York Philharmonic (remake of fourth movement: Yeend, Lipton, Lloyd, Harrell with Westminster Choir) - mono ------ 1959 Columbia Symphony (Cundari, Rankin, Da Costa, Wilderman with Westminster Choir) (+ rehearsal) - stereo -- Concerto for Violin: ------ 1947 with Josef Szigeti, New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1960 with Zino Francescatti, Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Concerto for Piano No.5 with Rudolf Serkin, New York Philharmonic - 1941 mono -- Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano with Corigliano, Rose, Hendl, New York Philharmonic - 1949 mono -- Corolian Overture: Columbia Symphony - 1959 stereo -- Egmont Overture: New York Philharmonic - 1954 mono -- Leonore Overture No.2: Columbia Symphony - 1960 stereo -- Leonore Overture No.3: New York Philharmonic - 1954 mono BRAHMS: -- Symphonies 1-4: ------ 1951-1953 New York Philharmonic (+ rehearsals of Symphonies 2 & 3) - mono ------ 1959-1960 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Academic Festival Overture: ------ 1951 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1960 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Tragic Overture: ------ 1953 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1960 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Variations on a Theme by Haydn: ------ 1953 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1960 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Schicksalslied ------ 1941 New York Philharmonic with Westminster Choir (sung in English) - mono ------ 1961 Columbia Symphony with Occidental College Choir (sung in German) - stereo -- Concerto for Violin & Cello: ------ 1954 with Stern, Rose, New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1959 with Francescatti, Fournier, Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Hungarian Dances No.1,3,10,17: New York Philharmonic - 1951 mono -- Ein Deutsches Requiem: New York Philharmonic (Seefried, London with Westminster Choir) - 1954 mono -- Alto Rhapsody with Mildred Miller mezzo, Columbia Symphony - 1961 stereo BRUCKNER: -- Symphony 4: Columbia Symphony - 1960 stereo -- Symphony 7: ------ 1954 New York Philharmonic (recorded “live”) - mono ------ 1961 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 9: Columbia Symphony - 1959 stereo -- Te Deum: New York Philharmonic (Yeend, Lipton, Lloyd, Harrell with Westminster Choir) - 1954 mono DVORAK: -- Symphony 8 ------ 1947 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1961 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 9 ‘New World’ Columbia Symphony - 1959 stereo -- Slavonic Dance Op.46, No.1: New York Philharmonic - 1941 mono GLUCK: -- Iphigenie in Aulide Overture: New York Philharmonic (recorded “live”) - 1954 mono HAYDN: -- Symphony 88: Columbia Symphony - 1961 stereo -- Symphony 96: New York Philharmonic -1954 mono -- Symphony 100: Columbia Symphony - 1961 stereo -- Symphony 102: New York Philharmonic - 1953 mono MAHLER: -- Symphony 1 ------ 1950 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1961 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 2 ‘Resurrection’ New York Philharmonic (Cundari, Forrester) - 1957 & 1958 stereo (Walter recorded the final two movements first, in 1957, then suffered a heart attack, causing a one year delay in the recording session) -- Symphony 4: New York Philharmonic (Desi Halban soprano) - 1945 mono -- Symphony 5: New York Philharmonic - 1947 mono -- Symphony 9: Columbia Symphony (+ rehearsal) - 1961 stereo -- Das Lied von der Erde with Mildred Miller, Ernst Haefliger, New York Philharmonic - 1960 stereo -- Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with Mildred Miller mezzo, Columbia Symphony - 1960 stereo -- Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit: eight songs with Desi Halban soprano, Bruno Walter piano - 1947 mono MENDELSSOHN: -- Midsummer Night’s Dream Scherzo: New York Philharmonic - 1945 mono -- Concerto for Violin with Nathan Milstein, New York Philharmonic - 1945 mono MOZART: -- Symphony 25: Columbia Symphony - 1954 mono -- Symphony 28: Columbia Symphony - 1954 mono -- Symphony 29: Columbia Symphony - 1954 mono -- Symphony 35 “Haffner” ------ 1953 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1959 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 36 ‘Linz’ ------ 1955 Columbia Symphony (+ rehearsal) - mono ------ 1960 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 38 ‘Prague’ ------ 1954 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1959 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 39: ------ 1953 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1960 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 40: ------ 1953 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1959 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 41 ‘Jupiter’ ------ 1945 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1956 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1960 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Masonic Funeral Music K.477: ------ 1954 Columbia Symphony - mono ------ 1961 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Serenade K.525 ‘Eine kleine Nachtmusik’: ------ 1954 Columbia Symphony - mono ------ 1958 Columbia Symphony - stereo Overtures: -- Cosi fan tutte: ------ 1954 Columbia Symphony - mono ------ 1961 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Le nozze di Figaro: ------ 1954 Columbia Symphony - mono ------ 1961 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Der Schauspieldirektor: ------ 1954 Columbia Symphony - mono ------ 1961 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Die Zauberflöte: ------ 1954 Columbia Symphony - mono ------ 1961 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Concerti for Violin No.3 & 4 with Zino Francescatti, Columbia Symphony - 1958 stereo -- German Dances K.605, No.1-3: Columbia Symphony - 1954 mono -- Minuet K.568, No.1: Columbia Symphony - 1954 mono -- Minuet K.599, No.5: Columbia Symphony - 1954 mono -- Requiem: New York Philharmonic (Seefried, Tourel, Simoneau, Warfield with Westminster Choir) - 1956 mono -- Mozart Concert Arias: ------ K.165 “Alleluja” from Exsultate Jubilate with Lily Pons soprano, unnamed orchestra - 1942 mono ------ K.513 “Mentre ti lascio, o figlia” ---------- with Ezio Pinza bass, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra - 1946 mono ---------- with George London bass, Columbia Symphony - 1953 mono ------ K.584 “Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo” with George London bass, Columbia Symphony - 1953 mono ------ K.612 “Per questa bella mano” with George London bass, Columbia Symphony - 1953 mono -- Mozart Opera Arias: ------ with Lily Pons soprano, unnamed orchestra - 1942 mono ------ with Ezio Pinza bass, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra - 1946 mono ------ with Eleanor Steber soprano, Columbia Symphony - 1953 mono ------ with George London bass, Columbia Symphony - 1953 mono SCHUBERT: -- Symphony 5: ------ 1955 Columbia Symphony - mono ------ 1960 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Symphony 8 ‘Unfinished’ ------ 1947 Philadelphia Orchestra - mono ------ 1958 New York Philharmonic - stereo -- Symphony 9: ------ 1946 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1959 Columbia Symphony - stereo -- Rosamunde Overture, Entr’acte & Ballet Music: Columbia Symphony - 1955 mono SCHUMANN: -- Symphony 3 ‘Rhenish’ New York Philharmonic - 1941 mono -- Concerto for Piano with Eugene Istomin, Columbia Symphony - 1960 stereo -- Song Cycle ‘Dichterliebe’ with Lotte Lehmann soprano, Bruno Walter piano - 1941 mono -- Song Cycle ‘Frauenliebe & leben’ with Lotte Lehmann soprano, Bruno Walter piano - 1941 mono SMETANA: -- Moldau (Vltava) from Ma Vlast: New York Philharmonic - 1941 mono J.STRAUSS: Waltzes: -- Emperor Waltz: ------ 1942 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1956 Columbia Symphony - mono -- On the Beautiful Blue Danube: Columbia Symphony - 1956 mono -- Tales from the Vienna Woods: Columbia Symphony - 1956 mono -- Vienna Blood: Columbia Symphony - 1956 mono Overtures: -- Die Fledermaus Columbia Symphony - 1956 mono -- Der Zigeunerbaron Columbia Symphony - 1956 mono R.STRAUSS: -- Don Juan: New York Philharmonic - 1952 mono -- Tod und Verklärung: New York Philharmonic - 1952 mono WAGNER: -- Siegfried-Idyll: ------ 1953 New York Philharmonic - mono ------ 1959 Columba Symphony (+ rehearsal) - stereo -- Parsifal Prelude & Good Friday Music: Columbia Symphony - 1959 stereo -- Tannhäuser Overture & Venusberg Music: Columbia Symphony with Occidental College Choir - 1961 stereo -- Overtures: ------ Fliegende Holländer: Columbia Symphony - 1959 stereo ------ Lohengrin Act One Prelude: Columbia Symphony - 1959 stereo ------ Meistersinger Act One Prelude: Columbia Symphony - 1959 stereo REHEARSALS with Columbia Symphony unless otherwise indicated CD 28-29: Bruno Walter rehearses Mozart Symphony 36 CD 73: Bruno Walter rehearses Wagner Siegfried Idyll + Bruno Walter on his recordings of Wagner and Brahms CD 74: Bruno Walter rehearses Mahler Symphony 9 (narrated by John McClure) CD 75: Bruno Walter rehearses Beethoven Symphony 5 (Columbia Symphony), Brahms Symphonies 2 & 3 (New York Philharmonic) CD 76: Bruno Walter rehearses Beethoven Symphonies 4, 7, 9 INTERVIEWS: CD 70: An Evening with Bruno Walter CD 71: Bruno Walter in Conversation with Arnold Michaelis CD 72: Bruno Walter Self-Portrait (narrated in German - no translation) CD 77 “Dear Japanese Music Lovers” + Bruno Walter tributes by Columbia Masterworks Artists + Sound of Genius + Bruno Walter Recollects